The QuaranTea Break Podcast

The QuaranTea Break Podcast is back - the socially distant tea break with some extraordinary people. Host Simon Ward once again chats remotely with some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment to find out how they're coping, what they've been doing and what they've been watching.

Mark Watson and Michael Chakraverty dial in to chat to Simon in this wonderful remote conversation. They chat about the lockdowns and...

The QuaranTea Break Podcast is back - the socially distant tea break with some extraordinary people. Host Simon Ward once again chats remotely with some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment to find out how they're coping, what they've been doing and what they've been watching

It's the third episode in season 2, and DJ and broadcaster Dev Griffin joins Simon for a remote conversation. He talks about moving fr...

The QuaranTea Break Podcast is back - the socially distant teabreak with some extraordinary people. Host Simon Ward once again chats remotely with some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment to find out how they're coping, what they've been doing and what they've been watching.

In this second episode in season 2, restauranteur, chef and broadcaster Simon Rimmer joins Simon for a remote conversation direct from...

The QuaranTea Break Podcast is back - the socially distant teabreak with some extraordinary people. Host Simon Ward once again chats remotely with some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment to find out how they're coping, what they've been doing and what they've been watching.

In this first episode in season 2, It’s A Sin star Callum Scott Howells joins Simon for a remote conversation to chat about ...

The QuaranTea Break Podcast is back - the socially distant teabreak with some extraordinary people. Host Simon Ward once again chats remotely with some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment to find out how they're coping, what they've been doing and what they've been watching.

In this short preview, listen back to some of the guests from Season 1. The second season begins on Tuesday 26 January, 2021. So, stick the...

Hey TQBP listeners! I really hope you’ve enjoyed the first 12 episodes of the podcast so far – the feedback you’ve given us since the start has been incredible.

Anyway, just popping in for a quick service announcement/out of office. We’ve very excited about a brand new run of episodes coming soon, and some of the guests we’ve got lined up soon are quite incredible. So please don’t go anywhere (literally – it’s much safer that wa...

Happy Tuesday (!!!) to you. A huge thank you to everyone tuning in today for EPISODE 12 of the QuaranTea Break Podcast. We’re coming to your ears a day later than usual this week – but it’s with a big guest, so I hope you can forgive us. Sitting down for a virtual natter is broadcaster and TV presenter JAKE HUMPHREY. I am absolutely dying to get into this one, because I think you’re going to love this episode a lot.

It’s such a ...

HELLO, and welcome to EPISODE 11. Thanks for coming on board. Today’s brilliant guest is stand-up comedian, writer and actor DANE BAPTISTE. You’ll know Dane – the first black British act to be nominated for a Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – from Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and his incredible sitcom Sunny D. I was so delighted Dane joined us for this episode.

I really loved o...

Hello, how are you keeping? Before we get started, a HUGE thank you to… you. We’ve just had the biggest week on the podcast for two consecutive weeks, which is incredible news. You’ve gone out there, you’ve told people about us and new listeners have continued to jump on board each and every week. So, THANK YOU!

But you’re here to find out about this week’s guest, and it’s BAFTA-winning actor Jason Watkins (The Lost Honour of Ch...

Happy Monday TQBP listeners! How are you doing this week? I hope this week will be a good one for you. Pop the kettle on for EPISODE 9 with novelist and screenwriter Stephen S. Thompson. He’s just created one of the finest dramas of 2020, Sitting In Limbo, which airs on BBC One at 8.30pm on Monday June 8 (available thereafter on BBC iPlayer). It’s based on his brother’s experience of being detained and threatened with deportation d...

We cannot quite believe we’ve arrived at EPISODE 8. I hope you’ve been keeping well this week and are settled indoors with a brew for today’s conversation with double Chortle Award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and satirist Kiri Pritchard-McLean. I have wanted to get Kiri on the show since day one; not only because she’s one of the funniest comics on the circuit, but because I have been a huge fan of her brilliant work on The C...

How you getting on TQBP listeners? I hope you’re all well this week. This episode, I had the pleasure of playwright and screenwriter James Graham’s company on FaceTime. We recorded hours after he appeared on BBC Question Time (seek out it on BBC iPlayer) where he talked about the battle to save theatre and the arts amid huge funding gaps due closure and shutdown. It’s a subject very close to my heart, and he expands on what he said...

Morning/Afternoon/Evening! Whatever the time, a heartfelt welcome to EPISODE 6 of the QuaranTea Break Podcast. This is an absolute belter. Recorded in three locations across two time zones – Los Angeles, Kent and Peckham – comes the first international edition of the show as I spoke to the creators of The Inbetweeners, Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. Damon said at the end of the recording that it felt more like a Zoom call with mate...

HELLO! We might have reached the bit in lockdown where we’re all cutting our own hair with the wild abandonment of a drunk sheep shearer, but episode 5 is here as a tea break from all of that. And it’s a good one. My conversation today is with Tracy-Ann Oberman (Friday Night Dinner, Toast Of London, Doctor Who), who is just a glorious person. So warm and interesting and she, correctly, takes her tea very strong.

We spoke about t...

Alright! How are you? Thanks so much for joining us for episode 4 – and it’s such a good one. Paul Chahidi (This Country, The Death Of Stalin) was an absolute joy. Sometimes you meet people – even virtually – and you know you’re going to get on really well. With Paul, I imagine that happens any time he connects with someone, because he’s just the nicest man. It’s no surprise that he was perfectly cast in the iconic role of Vicar ‘F...

Episode 3! Can we really be at episode 3 already? You’re in for a treat, because it’s screenwriter Sarah Phelps (The Pale Horse, Dublin Murders, And Then There Were None). Sarah was an utter joy and blisteringly funny. I spent an hour in her company over FaceTime and it wasn’t enough. I want to hear her opinions on EVERYTHING! We chat on everything from 5G conspiracy theorists and the US President to social media challenges, neuros...

We’re back! It’s EPISODE 2 of the QuaranTea Break podcast. Today, it’s actor and writer Rufus Jones (Home, Camping, W1A) calling in for a chat. I’ve been a huge fan of his hit Channel 4 comedy Home since the start – it’s the show I probably recommend most often to people when they ask for a telly suggestion, so it was great to get the chance to gas on about it with its creator. We talk about the show in a lot of detail (including *...

It’s here! The first episode of the QuaranTea Break podcast: a new podcast giving you break from the world of self-isolation. This week, I spoke to the actor (Peep Show, Back, Fresh Meat) and author (How Not To Be A Boy) Robert Webb on video chat from his home study in North London. Robert was a brilliant first guest. We talk about what he’s been doing since the world went a little bit nuts, what he’s been watching (he has views on...

The QuaranTea Break Podcast is a new weekly podcast giving you a much-needed tea break from world of self-isolation and social distancing. Each week, host Simon Ward will be chatting remotely with some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment to find out what they’re watching, what they’re reading and how they’re keeping busy. So, stick the kettle on. Sit back. And discover that most things in life can feel a little bit...